Hillsdale Wraps Up Year 125 with 54-0 Smoking of Lake Erie

For the first time since 1995 and for only the 3rd time since 1985, Hillsdale College has posted 3 shutouts in one season. Team 125 accomplished that feat with a 54-0 thrashing of Lake Erie College to complete its first season in the GMAC with a 7-4 overall record and 5-2 league record. Hillsdale finishes in 3rd place as Ohio Dominican beat Findlay 49-24 for the league title earlier today.

All eyes were on junior Trey Brock and his quest for the Hillsdale career receiving title. Brock entered the game needing 135 yards to tie Andre Holmes for the title. Brock would catch 3 balls for 22 yards as game script would dictate a heavy dose of the run game. On the day Hillsdale would rush for 244 yards on 41 carries.

Freshman David Graham blew the game open in the first quarter as he scored on runs of 12 and 23 yards. He would eventually finish with 167 yards rushing on just 13 carries and two more TD runs, one of 60 yards. He’s the first Charger back to score 4 rushing TD in a game since Joe Glendening did it several times in 2011.

Joe Phillip added first half field goals of 34 yards and a career high 48 yards that gave Hillsdale a 27-0 lead at the break.

A 34-0 3rd quarter lead made it possible for Coach Keith Otterbein to give his backups one last shot at some playing time and they made the most of it. QB Steven Ficyk would replace Chance Stewart (14/19 146 1TD 1INT) and throw touchdown passes of 53 and 67. The 53 yarder was a short pass Graham took to the house for his 5th TD of the day. The 67 yarder went to Konnor Maloney who would finish the day as the Chargers’ leading receiver. Ficyk would finish the day 5-6 for 164 yards and 2 TD.

Casey O’Brien would cap the scoring with a 4 yard dive to make it 54-0.

Lake Erie would threaten late but on his last play of his career, senior LB Nate Jones picked off the Storm in his own endzone to preserve the shutout. Another senior capping his career with a great day was Spencer Nehls who led the team with 6 total tackles, 4 for loss.

Hillsdale out-gained Lake Erie 554 to 89. The Storm was just 2 of 14 on 3rd down and 0 for 2 on 4th Down. Against the run Hillsdale held Lake Erie to just 16 yards on 29 attempts.

Hillsdale’s 7-4 record is the Chargers’ first winning season since 2012.